Grand jury to review case of double slaying

DANVILLE — A judge has waived to a grand jury the case of a man accused of killing two men and wounding another in a double slaying that appears to be drug-related.

Thomas Wayne Hager Jr., 39, is charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in the shooting deaths of Ted Sparks, 54, of Danville and Mark Snyder, 21, of Waynesburg. Philip White, 37, of Lancaster was wounded in the shooting.

In addition to those charges, Hager faces one count of tampering with evidence for allegedly trying to dispose of the weapon used in the killings.

Hager appeared briefly Wednesday before Boyle District Judge Jeff Dotson. At that time, public defender Susanne McCollough said she would waive a preliminary hearing.

Commonweath's Attorney Richie Bottoms said the next grand jury meets June 26, but he raised the possibility of presenting an "information," a charging document that would bypass a grand jury.

Meanwhile, Kentucky State Police are investigating how Hager's ex-roommate died.

The remains of Clint Disken, 31, were found Friday on property near Hustonville in Lincoln County where Hager and Disken lived. Disken was last seen alive in Harrodsburg in early March. Hager moved out of the mobile home they shared about March 9.